New Policy Brief Released on the Digital Landscape Facing Today's Teachers

In partnership with TASA and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the Committee for Economic Development has released its latest issue brief "Digital Learning: Meeting the Challenges and Embracing the Opportunities for Teachers."

Written in cooperation with TASA consultant Denise Collier, Director of Instructional Technology Karla Burkholder (Northwest ISD), and Executive Director of Leading and Learning Tabitha Branum (Coppell ISD), the brief discusses the digital landscape of today's classrooms, as well as the challenges that these advancements may cause teachers.

Today's technologically savvy students are often called "digital-age learners," and according to the report, are "less dependent upon traditional education institutions for knowledge acquisition and are much more self-reliant, exercising their internet-based skills to aggregate data and information.

These evolving student characteristics and the increased presence of technology and digital resources provide challenges for schools, like access and resources, teacher training and professional development, and structures and delivery methods. However, the digital learning era also provides great opportunity to help schools advance student learning and acquire 21st century skills.

The report focuses on increasing student enrichment, addressing teacher effectiveness, mitigating inequality, and preparing students for success. In addition, the policy brief further supports the work of the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium and TASA's School Transformation Network.